Judge Throws Out DJ David Mueller’s Lawsuit Against Taylor Swift

Denver radio DJ David Mueller's lawsuit against Taylor Swift has been thrown out. The trial's judge ruled on Friday (Aug. 11) that Swift could not be held at fault for Mueller's firing after he allegedly groped her during a meet and greet in 2013.

According to the Associated Press, U.S. District Judge William Martinez ruled that Mueller and his legal team failed to prove during the trial that Swift was personally responsible for radio station KYGO-FM firing Mueller in 2013, just days after the meet-and-greet incident. However, Mueller's allegations against Swift's mother Andrea and her radio representative will be put to a jury to determine a verdict.

In September of 2015, Mueller filed a lawsuit against Swift for what he says are unfounded claims that he grabbed her bottom while taking a photo with her at a meet and greet. Mueller says he was unjustly fired from his job as a radio personality for KYGO and also lost prospective business opportunities because of the claims. A month later, Swift filed her own countersuit, saying that Mueller “intentionally reached under her skirt and groped with his hand an intimate part of her body in an inappropriate manner, against her will, and without her permission.”

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In late 2016, Swift and her legal team filed a motion requesting that the case against her be dismissed because Mueller’s firing was the result of an internal investigation by KYGO, not any direct action by Swift. However, the former DJ fought back against that motion, calling his firing from the radio station due to the allegation the result of a “sham” investigation.

Also in late 2016, Swift filed a motion to restrict public access to some of the documents involved in her lawsuit, including a photo of the incident, as well as a description of the photograph, 12 pages of summary judgement and hundreds of supporting documents and photos. A judge ruled that the photo will remain sealed, but Swift’s deposition was released.

Swift herself testified on Thursday (Aug. 10), recalling the meet-and-greet incident during which Mueller allegedly assaulted her, and recounting her feelings about and response afterwards. During the trial, her mother, former bodyguard and photographer were also among those called to the stand.